The Franklin Park Conservatory will soon be home to flamingos, tigers, peacocks and more as a new set of topiaries grace the gardens this summer. New exhibition ‘Topiary Takeover’ opens June 4 and will be on display through September 11.
The exhibition will feature 25 topiaries, 14 of which will make an appearance for the first time in the park. Twenty of the topiaries will be animals from UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which represent locations having cultural, historical, scientific or other significance.
Plant life will be used to create life-like interpretations of the animals, mimicking colors and textures such as feathers, fur, scales and skin. The surrounding plantings will create an immersive visual experience that complements the life and terrains of each animal.
According to the Franklin Park Conservatory, the exhibition will display:
- Three flamingos with plantings that complement their pink color.
- Six tropical fish, five seahorses and three jellyfishes with plantings mimicking the Great Barrier Reef.
- A bison with plantings that evoke prairies in Yellowstone National Park.
- A royal Bengal tiger with plantings inspired by the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans.
- A peacock inspired by those found in Keoladeo National Park.
- A marine iguana with plantings imitating the rocky coasts of the Galápagos Islands.
- Two camels surrounded by an interpretation of the environment at Wadi Rum.
- A cardinal representing the state bird of Ohio.
- A pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
The unique display was designed and constructed by the Conservatory’s horticulture and exhibition staff.
The experience will include an audio tour that describes the scenes found throughout the exhibition, along with a musical soundtrack. Guests can access the audio descriptions and playlists through signage and on the Conservatory website.
For more details, visit fpconservatory.org/topiary-takeover.